Hodges has proposed a so-called "Cradle-to-K" plan to target children from before birth until they reach about 4 years of age. It involves, among other things, expanding the city's Healthy Start program, which aids low-income parents before and after childbirth.

She said in a recent press conference that too much of the debate over improving Minneapolis schools is focused on adult issues, such as teacher staffing levels, charter schools and education standards.

Development:

Hodges aims to grow the city's population to 500,000 people (Rybak has set a timeline of 2025 to accomplish this).

She has noted that objections to density often directed at the density of cars, a concern that is alleviated by having better transit. She added that transit helps spread development “all across the city” and ease pressure on neighborhoods.

Hodges voted against a recent development moratorium proposal for Dinkytown, which was spurred by neighborhood objections to dense apartment projects. She did, however, successfuly pass a development moratorium for her own neighborhood of Linden Hills in 2012 after a similar neighborhood uprising (Finance and Commerce).

Transit:

Hodges is a proponent of streetcars, having voted for a plan to redirect $60 million in property taxes from existing development projects to help fund a $200 million, 3.2-mile "starter" streetcar line along Nicollet Avenue.

She says as mayor she would also push for "state-of-the-art" bus improvements in the urban core, a streetcar along West Broadway in North Minneapolis and a high-quality bus station at Lake Street and 35W and the Bottineau light rail line (StreetsMN).

Hodges cut her teeth in public life by serving on a citizen commission tasked with outlining a private financing plan for the Twins ballpark in 2001. She voted against the Vikings stadium deal in 2012, but served on the stadium's implementation committee.